Traveling with pets is now the norm. Many pet owners find that it’s actually easier
to take their pets along for the
trip than to make arrangements
to leave them at home. As more
owners get onboard with the
trend, there will be an increasing need for travel and adventure gear.

Manufacturers and retailers
alike agree that the big trend in
pet travel and adventure gear
is simply the fact that pets are
coming along for the journey.
The somewhat-recent acceptability of this practice is helping
the trend grow, said Mike Leon,
president of Leon Engineering
Inc. in Orlando, Fla.

“It’s been accepted to takepets out into public and intoestablishments in Europe fora long time,” Leon said. “Butthings are changing here, andit’s becoming more common tosee restaurants and stores wel-coming dogs. Ten years ago thatwas unheard of in this country.As it becomes more accepted,more people are doing it.”Taking your dog anywhereand everywhere is a risingtrend, agreed Dan Hawk, own-er of Gen7Pets in Elverson, Pa.

“And pet owners aren’t just
taking their dogs on vacation to
leave them in the hotel, they’re
taking them along for their adventures—parks, the beach,
even restaurants,” Hawk said.

And pet owners need products to keep their dogs on the
go, said Susan Strible, director
of marketing for Ruffwear in
Bend, Ore.

“Products that keep dogs
happy, safe and comfortable
during travels are important,”
Strible said. “What we’ve heard
from our customers is that they
want durable, long-lasting
products that are easy to use
and comfortable for their dogs.”
Keeping pets comfortable
psychologically also is on owners’ minds, said Diane Dewberry, owner of The Healthy Animal in Pembroke, Mass. She
reported selling an increased
number of essential oils designed to calm animals during
travel.

“There are a couple reasons
pets may have trouble traveling—the motion itself may make
them sick or uneasy, but there
also can be fear associated with
travel,” Dewberry said. “Perhaps
the last time a puppy traveled
was to the vet to get neutered.
That could create some fear
about getting in the car. Tran-quility-blend essential oils can
help with relaxation and are becoming increasingly popular.”

Ready, Set, Go!Whether it’s a local hike or a road trip across state lines, pet owners are bringing their pets with them, andthat means more opportunity to sell the products that can make these adventures safe and comfortable.

Car travel with a dog can be a much more pleasant experience with the right product.
New from Solvit Products is the PupSTEP HitchStep, a two-step accessory for helping
dogs in and out of cars.

“The PupS TEP HitchStep can mount into any vehicle square-hitch receiver and hastwo folding steps that are stowed easily so that they stay out of the way when not inuse,” said Patrick Hoffman, president of the Arlington, Texas, company. “They also areadjustable to fit different vehicles.”Having the right gear forstops along the way or thedestination itself also is im-portant. Gen7Pets in Elverson,Pa., recently launched the Cool-Air Cot, which features heavy-duty mesh flooring that pro-vides ventilation, said DanHawk, owner.

Launched at Global Pet
Expo in Orlando, Fla., in March,
the Portable Play Yard from
Gen7Pets offers an incredibly
quick setup and stores easily
for portability, Hawk said.

“This is a great product for
the dog who wants to have a
little space to stretch out and
walk around,” Hawk said. “It
prevents pets from wandering
off, protects the dog from the
environment, or protects the
environment from the dog.”

SOGGY DOGGY PRODUCTIONS’
Soggy Doggy Super Shammy is
dog’s best friend on a road trip. It
absorbs five times more water and
muck than regular towels, dries
quickly and never gets that “doggie”
smell. The easy-on hand pockets
make drying a wet underbelly on a
squirmy pooch a snap. Machine
wash and dry.
soggydoggydoormat.com

EZYDOG offers the SnakPak Pro treat bag with magnetic closure. The bag has reflective piping, a waterproof opening for accessories and plenty of space for treats. It is
designed to stabilize
around the owner’s
waist or secure
around their body.

The front zip closure
is handy for storing
keys or money, and
it comes with a dispenser and storage
for poop bags.
ezydog.com

NEATER PET BRANDS’Neater Bag Dispenser allows doggie bags to dispense from a small
opening as easily as tissues, and there is no
hassle with fighting perforated edges while
juggling a dog leash. The dispenser easily attaches anywhere on the leash or collar, making
it simple to remember to bring on trips and
easy to pack and bring along.
neaterfeeder.com